Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
On Wayne's comment about some of the CFIA costs, inspection fees and so on being assumed, it would be green if we called it green under the agreements. It's only a heads-up. If it's seen to be that, I think there would be support for it from industry, for sure.
On some of the concerns that Allan brought up about people wanting to hold on to their own power, I know the CFIA came up with the business alignment plan a long time ago that was basically cost recovery. I know our sector said it was fine, and we wouldn't use it anymore. It didn't matter that whatever was cut out, they said they'd charge it on this now, and it didn't matter. There are a lot of people within that structure who are trained to do that. They won't want to give it up.
Karen, I didn't take any offence at what you said. The free enterprises in our sector that we see are very careful. As Willlem said, we produce 50% more than we eat. It has to go somewhere, and it has to be very targeted.
I think our big concern is from a competitive point of view, if a product is not allowed to be used by our farmers on farms, even though it's cheap...it's because Health Canada hasn't approved it--which we all support. But for eight years, the Americans were allowed to use it, and we could buy it in our grocery stores all across Canada. So if it is not good for Canadians to eat--or is it? There was a disconnect there. I think there was anywhere from $2 to $5 per pig for the benefit of producers in the States, and we didn't have that. It's now approved in Canada...but it was a disconnect anyway.
Thank you.